WELL BEING
The teeth-heart links
DR. JAIDEEP MAHENDRA
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Brush and floss your teeth regularly to cut the risk of heart disease.
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Smile away: Healthy gums lead to a healthier body.
“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,” says a proverb. In general, hearts not only break, but sing, dance, turn as hard as stone, become heavy or light or warm or cold. In science, however, the heart is subject to assaults from a number of sources, known and unknown.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, but many with cardiovascular disease may have none of the common risk factors usually associated with it, like smoking, obesity and high cholesterol. There are a number of other factors too not known to the lay person.
Researchers in the field of dentistry have, in the last decade, discovered the link between gum disease and heart disease. A number of studies, especially in the last decade, have shown that people with gum disease may be at a greater risk of developing heart disease. The studies find a strong link between gum disease and narrowing of the arteries of the heart (or atherosclerosis).
Gum disease
Teeth are covered by sticky plaque made up of food, bacteria and bacterial waste products. If plaque is left on the teeth, the gums become irritated and may bleed when you brush. This early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. If left untreated, the gums may swell, forming a little pocket around the tooth. Plaque collects in this and cannot be removed by a toothbrush. When left on the teeth, plaque hardens to form tartar (calculus).
Over time the pockets get deeper, trap more plaque and tartar and may become infected. Gingivitis can develops into chronic periodontitis in which the jaw bone may be infected and damaged, causing teeth to loosen or fall out.
Studies suggest that the bacteria that cause gum disease may increase the rate at which arteries of the heart become blocked. Researchers believe that bacteria from the infected gums enter the bloodstream, activating the immune system and make the artery walls of the heart inflamed and narrowed. Another theory is that the bacteria enter the blood and attach themselves directly to the fatty deposits already present in a person’s arteries, causing further narrowing down.
The association
Studies were carried out by the author on 51 patients with heart disease to correlate the association between gum disease and heart disease. Patients were studied for the presence of oral bacteria in the plaque of the infected coronary arteries.
The results significantly showed the presence of seven of the eight types of oral bacteria in the plaque of diseased coronary arteries of a majority of the patients.
Most people are aware that lifestyle choices such as eating right, getting enough exercise and quitting smoking can help prevent cardiovascular disease. However, they may not know that by just brushing and flossing their teeth each day, they may avoid one of the risk factors for heart attack. In India, gum disease is the one of the most common dental diseases If you suffer from gum disease or are at high risk, visit your dentist for a dental evaluation because healthy gums lead to a healthier body.
Signs of gum disease
Gums bleed on brushing; are red, tender and swollen.
Pus can be seen between teeth and gums when pressed.
Gums seem to be pulling away from teeth.
Chronic bad breath or bad taste in the mouth.
Change in bite or the way teeth fit together
Teeth seem loose or are separating.
What is heart disease?
The arteries supplying blood to the heart become narrow because they are clogged with fatty deposits or become inflamed (atherosclerosis).
This deprives the heart of oxygen and nutrients needed for normal functioning.
When blood flow through an artery stops, a heart attack can occur.
Prevent gum disease
The best way to prevent gum disease is to maintain good oral hygiene. This means brushing your teeth twice a day and regularly visiting your dentist
Proper brushing and dental flossing is the most effective way of removing plaque from the teeth and thus preventing the build up of bacteria in the mouth. Indeed, a healthy smile may promote a healthy heart.
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